12.24.2011

Feliz Cumpleanos Jesus!

Merry Christmas
Feliz Navidad
Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Feliz Natal
Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
Joyeux Noel
Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Nadolig Llawen
E ku odun, e ku iye'dun
Kala Christouyenna
Mele Kalikimaka
Sheng Dan Kuai Le
Chuc Mung Giang Sinh

12.16.2011

Happy Birthday Boo!

Boo. Zazz.

Take your pick.

She pretty much answers to them all.

This kid is a mess and a half. She can drive you insane and have you wrapped at the same time.

Energy is NEVER in short supply. Laughter comes at no extra charge. Quirks are proudly displayed with little to no embarrassment.

But I love her. Her little sticky fingers. Her CRAZY hair. Her inability to say 95% of the English language correctly. Her bad nap breath. All of it. I love it!

Today she turns 2. Already the big sister to 2! This girl can eat. Let me tell you! Holy cow! She pretty much loves it all! I think the one thing we've ruled out is plain avocado and grilled cheese/quesadilla. She loves to be outside, running around in crazy circles, inside watching a movie or playing dress up, or at the table "talowing" (coloring).

Happy Birthday sweet girl! I love you so much and I am so excited to watch the little lady you are growing into! Stay Boo like baby for as long as you can!
07-2011 707

12.07.2011

Bo

I thought it was time to take you on a little tour of me M - F 7:15 - 5:30. It sometimes isn't classy. I'm told it's not a real job. It might not be what someone would "choose." But I love it. I really do. I enjoy hanging out with these little people. Learning their likes and dislikes. How they act, react, respond, grow, and develop.

They each have their own personality and trying to come up with one distinct way to describe all 3 is just as impossible as trying to describe any other group of 3 people. So we will begin the introductions at the youngest and working our way up. Don't worry they oldest will be 2 next week so there isn't that much to climb.

Bo is my baby baby. Totaling at 7 and 3/4 months old he has all things "girl" wrapped around his fingers...all 10 of them. He's a tall, goofy, friendly kid. His baby blues and bald head happen to be a favorite combination of mine. The boy has scored some nicknames...Cam, Bo, Po, Po-Po, Cobble, Soup, and the list increases every day.
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He is entering the food stage and doing pretty well at it. Learning that not all he puts in his mouth is "good" but there are certain requirements. Napping with little man has been a nightmare until recently! I was pulling my hair out just getting through maybe an hour and when it was all said and done there was little to no patience left to be had. In the last few weeks he has suddenly adopted this new love of sleep. He still doesn't sleep like my girls do but 2, 2 hour naps a day make me a winner and him a happy baby!
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Mobility is his new found joy in life! Figuring out that point A and point B really aren't that far if he doesn't have to rely on someone else to get him there! Crawling has sent me into another level of watching and moving!
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The boy loves music, reading books, one on one time, and quiet but only so he can fill it. He is super sweet and such a good baby! I am loving this stage of being able to do things with him! Finally there is some interaction!


So there you have it. Round 1 of my work week!

12.05.2011

life as un-normal

I am beginning to think this is the new normal.

Crazies!

I feel like it's been a non stop million miles an hour train ride through the last few months. Since our family beach trip in September "life" as we knew it has been far from a reality.

I am not one to lavish times on the lower end but I can't sugar-coat the truth either. I feel like the last 12 weeks have been full of not so fun stuff. From watching a grandparent enter eternity, to celebrating the small details of wedding preparation I would say that the emotional swing has been pretty large.

Upon arrival home in September the idea of wedding has seemed to consume this house as a whole. Invitations, dresses, patterns, material, decorations, showers...and the list could carry on! I have really enjoyed being able to be so hands on/in this go 'round. With my oldest sister's wedding I was only 14 and slightly on the teen aged self absorbed stage. I didn't "really" care what happened. This time I feel like I have been more involved and I want to be. I am thankful that my job has allowed it! Just this past week my sister had her dress fitting for alterations. The parents of my babies were able to work it out for me to head out about half an hour earlier than normal so I could make it in time to be a witness! Thank you Father for helpful and considerate people to work for!

October was pretty busy and emotionally heavy...for me. Standing on the vague side for consideration I had to watch abandonment from 2 sides with a family that I love dearly. I had to learn to let go of someone who is currently thinking they are living what's best for them. I began watching it weigh heavily on other members and hurting for them. My dad always says something and it played in my mind constantly. People are messy. Getting involved with them means you might get messy too. They hurt. I hurt. Thankfully though it's brought a ton of wisdom that wasn't otherwise there. Just the other day the youngest member asked me (in reference to Mary, Jesus' mom) if I thought God could think that highly of her too. Thank you Father for being present in their lives even when circumstances seem so huge! You are some much greater!

November opened with a new set of challenges. My ailing grandpa had been continually getting worse. After suffering a stroke mid month things went from a slow gentle walk to a fast pace glide down hill. Suffering yet another stroke and paralysis of the body he was on hospice and a week before Thanksgiving we said goodbye. In all of it though God remained faithful to provide the right amount of encouragement from family and friends! The day that I took my sisters to church after we had gone to say goodbye He provided a source of encouragement from one of my youth leaders from high school. She had not been at that church in several months. I had not been at that church is several weeks. Thank you Father for your timing and your perfect ways.

In the midst of all this, work hasn't slowed down, ministry is still pulling from me, I am still watching my Friday friend choose a life that suits her, and witnessing the dissolution of a marriage of a friend.

A week into December and things seemed to be just as busy. Nothing near as emotionally heavy. I am learning in this though that He is faithful. He has never, just like He promises, left us or forsaken us. God says, "yes" to His promises.

For that, I am thankful.